parmelee



No. 640, 1 3l5. Patented Ian. 2,1900. n. P. PABMELEE.

' COMBINED BOOK PACKING AND SHIPPING CASE.

(Application filed Jan. 16, 1B9 9.)

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

iIoYT P. PARMELEE, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

COMBINED BOOK PACKING AND SHIPPING oAss.

srnorricnrron forming part of Letters Patent No. 640,315, dated January 2, 1990'.-

v Application filed January 16, 1899. Serial No- 702,278. (No model.)

To ctZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HOYT P. PARMELEE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Oombined Book Packing and Shipping Case, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a combination book packing and shipping case.

The object of the invention is to provide a case for holding, packing, and shipping books which is of simple construction and arrangement and wherein the books are efficiently protected from injury while being transported.

Other objects of the invention will appear more fully hereinafter.

The invention consists, substantially, in the construction, combination, location, and arrangement of parts, all as will be more fully hereinafter set forth, as shown in the accompanying drawings, and finally specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, and to the various views and reference signs appearing thereon, Figure 1 is a general View in perspective of a case constructed in accordance with the principles of my invention,showing the sections and middle board thereof in open position. Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the same with the sections closed and show in g a duplicated arrangement of middle board. Fig. 8 is a broken detail view of one corner of a section of the case, showing a lining interposed between the inner and outer parts of the case. Fig. 4 is a broken detail view in perspective, showing a middle board with a corner cut out or omitted to accommodate books of unusual length in the case. Fig. 5 is a broken detail view in perspective, showing a slightly-modified arrangement wherein the partition-walls of the inner portion of the case are removable and adjustable to accommodate books of different thicknesses. Fig. 6 is a side view of a middle board, a part being broken out, and indicating the pocket formed therein to receive a book of unusual width.

The same part is designated by the same reference-letter wherever it occurs throughout the several views.

In carrying my invention into practical opinjury.

eration my case is made in sections, as A B, hinged together, preferably, though not necessarily, at the ends thereof, so as to be closed upon each other and locked in closed position. The interior of each section is divided into compartments, each of suitable dimensions to receive one or more books. This result may be accomplished by arranging in each section a removable casing 0, comprising one or more plates or boards D, arranged to divide each section longitudinally and forming shelves. The space on opposite sides of the shelves D are subdivided into separate compartments or pockets by means of the partitions E. In practice the spaces into which the casings O are divided longitudinally by the shelves D may be of a width corresponding to the width or length of the books to be packed and shipped, while the compartments formed by the partitions E may each be of an area adapting it to accommodate one or more books. It is evident that as many shelves D may be arranged in each section of the packing-case as may be desired. shown only one such shelf in each section I desire it to be understood that my invention is not limited or restricted thereto. It will also be seen that the pockets or compartments formed by the thin partitions E may be varied in number or in area, as may be desired, to suit any requirements.

By making the casing O removable and independent of the sections A B the books are more perfectly and completely protected from injury while being shipped.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the books packed in the case for shipping are held or carried in separate compartments, and hence are not permitted to contact or rub against each other while in transportation, and hence are preserved from It is also apparent that from the construction above described the case need not be completely filled with books and still may be transported without injury to the books. Therefore in the practical application of my invention the divisions or compartments into which the sections of the case are divided not only serve to prevent the books from rubbing, but they also enable only a few booksto be shipped in the case.

This is an important feature of myinvention, for the reason that without it in order to ship books withoutinj ury'it would be necessary to have the case completely filled and also separately packed, whereas with my invention books may be shipped long distances, whether few or many in the same case, without injury or special packing.

shipments, are taken up to a great extent by this lining, and hence are not transmitted to the books.

It may be desirable to increase or diminish the area of some one or more of the compartments or pockets formed by the thin partitions Eas, for instance, when it"is desired to pack one or more books of unusual thickness in the same case with other books of the usual or diminished thickness. In order to accomplish this result, I may arrange the partitions E to slide in grooves G, formed in the shelves and inner walls of the casing O, as clearly shown in Fig. 5. By this arrangement it will be seen that I can readily increase or diminish the area of any one ormore of the compartments by removing the partitions or by changing them from one to an other of the grooves or ways, as will be readily understood.

With a packing and shipping case con-- structed as above described the books are packed by sliding or inserting them into the pockets or compartments endwise or ed gewise,

as may be desired. Usually the books are packed by inserting them edgewise into the pockets or compartments, the back edges of the books being presented outwardly. With the books thus packed itwill be seen that the back edges of the books packed in one section of the case will be brought into contact with the back edges of the books packed in the, other section of the case when said sec tions are brought together intolocking position. In order to prevent injury to the binding of the books through the rubbing of these edges together while in transit, I provide what I shall designate a middle board 1-1 and interpose the same between the meeting surfaces of the sections of the case, thus protecting and shielding the books contained in one section from injury by rubbing against the edges of those contained in the other section when the sections are closed. This middle board or diaphragm may be constructed in any convenient manner and of any suitable material. In the particular form shown, to which, however, my invention is not limited or restricted, I provide a frame J, preferably in place.

rectangular in outline and of a size adapted to be received snugly within the inner casing C. To this frame I suitably secure the cov erings or plates K, of thick cardboard, binders board, or any other suitable material. This middle board is attached at one edge to one of the sections of the case by means of chains L or other suitable means, as clearly shown in Fig. 1, whereby it may be readily swung out of the way for inserting or removing the books and then replaced in position when the case is filled and the sections are ready to be closed upon each other. When the case is opened, the chains or connections L permit the middle board or diaphragm to swing away from the section of the case, as clearly shown in Fig. 1, thus revealing the contents of the case to inspection.

It is obvious that only one middle board may be employed between the meeting surfaces of the sections A B, as shown in Fig. 1. If desired, however, a middle board may be attached to each section of the case, as shown in Fig. 2, thus insuring increased protection for the books. The middle board may be covered along the edges thereof or over its entire surface with felt or flannel in order to prevent injury to the books by rubbing thereagainst.

A middle board constructed as above described is economical in manufacture, adds inappreciably to the weight of the case, and efiiciently protects the contents of the case from injury.

It sometimes may be desired to pack one or more books of unusual length in the same case with other books of shorter length. In such case the end of the long book or books would project too far out from the inner casing 0 to permit the middle board to fit snugly In order to accommodate such books in the case, I may cut away a corner of the middle board, as indicated at M, Figs. 4 and 6, thus permitting the ends of the long books to project through and enabling the middle board at the same time to fit snugly,

in place; The provision of this cut-away corner also enables me to insert or remove a book from the case after the middle board is arranged in position.

' It may sometimes be desired to pack and ship in the case a book which is too wide to be accommodated in any of the compartments of the case. In order to provide for such emergency, I may form a pocket (indicated at N, Fig. 6.) in the middle board of such dimensions as to accommodate any desired width of book, thus providing means for shipping books of unusual width in the same case with other books of usual width without injury.

It will be seen that when a'case constructed in accordance with my invention and containing the books reaches its destination and is opened up the books are at once revealed to inspection, and hence my case, while not in use for the actual packing and shipping, becomes a bookcase and serves the purpose of an exhibiting-case for displaying the books, and no separate bookcase for holding the books is required.

It is obvious that many changes and varia: tions in the size, proportion, and details of construction and arrangement of parts would readily suggest themselves to persons skilled in the art and still fall within the spirit and scope of my invention. I do not desire, therefore, to be limited or restricted to the exact details shown and described; but,

Having now set forth the object and nature of my invention and an illustrative form of construction embodying the principles thereof and having described such construction and its purpose, function, and mode of operation, what I claim as new and useful and of my own invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A packing and shipping case for books, comprising sections hinged together and adapted to be closed upon each other and looked, a casing separate from and independent of said sections, and adapted to be removably received within each section, each casing being subdivided into a series of compartments adapted to receive the books to be packed and shipped, as and for the purpose set forth. 7

2. A packing and shipping case for books, comprising sections hinged or pivoted together to be closed upon each other and looked, a casing for each section, each casing being separate from and independent of the section in which it is removably received, one or more shelves arranged within each casing to divide the same longitudinally into spaces, and transverse partitions arranged to subdivide said spaces into separate compartments or pockets to receive the books, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. A packing and shipping case for books, comprising sections hinged or pivoted together to be closed upon each other and looked, a casing for each section, each casing being separate from and independent of the section in which it is removably received, one or more shelves arranged longitudinally within each casing, said shelves provided with a series of transverse grooves, and transverse partitions removably received in said grooves, whereby said casings are divided into separate compartments or pockets adjustable in area and adapted to receive the books to be packed and shipped, as and for the purpose set forth.

4. A packing and shipping case for books, comprising sections hinged or pivoted together and adapted to be closed upon each other and looked, a casing for each section,

each casing being separate from and independent of the section in which it is removably received, and containing a series of sep- I and the removable casing arranged therein,

as and for the purpose set forth.

5; A packing and shipping case for books, comprising hinged sections, a separate and independent casing mounted in each section, and each having compartments adapted to receive the books, and a removable middle board arranged to be received between the meeting surfaces of said sections to protect the edges of the books contained in one section from contact with the edges of those contained in the other section when said sections are closed, said middle board provided with a pocket or chamber between the walls thereof, as and for the purpose set forth.

6. A packing and shipping case for books, comprising hinged sections, each having compartments adapted to receive the books to be packed and shipped, in combination with a middle board adapted to be received between the meeting surfaces of said sections to protect the edges of the books contained in one section from contact with theedges of those contained in the other section when said sections are closed, said middle board comprising a frame having sheets or plates secured thereto, said frame and side sheets or plates being cut away in one corner, thereby forming a recess or pocket between said plates or sheets, and chains connecting one edge of said board to one of said sections, as and for the purpose set forth.

7. A packing and shipping case for books,

books, in combination with a removable mid- 

